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AN EYE-OPENING AND DRAMATIC REPORT ON CHILDREN LIVING
WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, ON ABC NEWS' "20/20," FRIDAY, JULY 22

"20/20" reports on the challenges facing families whose young children are suffering with severe mental illness. ABC News correspondent Jay Schadler shares the stories of three girls in California: 7-year-old Jani Schofield, a beautiful blonde child who loves to swim and play but has been diagnosed with schizophrenia -- her hallucinations command her to act dangerously and violently, like jumping off a high building or hurting her baby brother; Rebecca Stancil, a precocious 9-year-old who has already tried to commit suicide; and Brenna Wohlenberg, a 13-year-old who loves to play with her dogs but fears she will hurt them or her little sisters because of her psychotic behavior, some of which is caught on tape. "20/20" spent time inside the homes of these children to see what life is like for the girls. Their families kept video diaries showing the daily struggles, breakdowns, and the overwhelming strain on both personal relationships and finances.

"20/20" turns its attention to this disorder that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and reports on the treatments and new medical understanding in the field, FRIDAY, JULY 22 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (OAD: 3/12/10)

"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo. David Sloan is executive producer.